Refrigerator cabinet construction



Aprifi 17 134. G. F. FORSTHOEFEL REFRIGERATOR CABINET CONSTRUCTION Filed June 1'7, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR GREGG F1 Foes-m OEF'EI.

FELT

QAQGM ATTORNEY p 17, 19349 G. F. FORSTHOEFEL. I 1,955,381

' REFRIGERATOR CABINET CONSTRUCTION Filed June 17, 1932 3Sheets$heet 2 FELT.

48 INVENTOR FIG. 4 GQEGG F'. FORSTHOEF'EL.

ATTORNEY A ril 17, 1934 G. F. FORSTHOEFEL REFRIGERATOR CABINET CONSTRUCTION Filed June 17, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Gwzes' F. FORSTHOEFEL. G/IQIM ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 17, 1934 UNITED STATES REFRIGERATOR CABINET CONSTRUCTION Gregg F. Forsthoefel, Springfield, Mass., assignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 17, 1932, Serial No. 617,893

15 Claims.

My invention relates to a cabinet construction for refrigerators and the like, more particularly to a refrigerator cabinet having porcelain enameled or similar outer facing panels, and it has for its object to provide an improved construction thereof.

In the manufacture of refrigerator cabinets having porcelain exterior finish, it has been the general practice to provide a wood frame to which the porcelain enameled panels are secured.

It is the object of my invention to dispense with the use of wood in refrigerator cabinets having porcelain enamel or similar exterior finish by providing an all steel construction.

A further object is to reduce the cost of manufacture of a refrigerator cabinet having a porcelain enamel or similar exterior finish.

Another object is to provide a refrigerator cabinet, in which the facing panels may be read- 2g ily removed and replaced.

A further object is to provide a refrigerator cabinet having outer facing panels secured thereon by securing means which are not visible on the exterior from the sides and front of the cabinet.

5 A further object is to provide a construction embodying facing panels of a size suitable for the process of applying the porcelain enamel coatmg.

Another object is to provide a refrigerator cabinet embodying outer facing panel members which are not too large to be practical for the coating process, but which at the same time have smooth continuous corners and a minimum number and length of joints between adjacent panels, in order to provide a cabinet of pleasing appearance.

A further object is to provide a porcelain enameled cabinet in which the insulation may be readily hermetically sealed, and in which the A porcelain panels may be readily replaced without affecting the hermetic seal.

In accordance with my invention, I provide an outer casing comprising sheet metal walls secured directly to each other to form a frameless and substantially rigid structure which serves as a frame structure for the cabinet. An inner casing or liner is held in spaced relation to the outer casing, preferably by heat-insulating material provided in the intervening space; the outer and inner casings, together with the insulating material, forming a self-sustaining and substantially rigid body structure. The outer casing is preferably sealed against the atmosphere to prevent entrance of moisture to the insulation. I provide two separate outer facing members, each including a side panel having a marginal panel covering the adjacent vertical marginal panel of the front wall. Each facing member is detachably secured to the outer casing, the securing means preferably including a flange engaging the adjacent portion of the rear wall and an inturned flange at the free vertical edge of the front wall marginal panel. A portion of the space between the marginal panels provides a door opening, the adjacent portions of the flanges being inserted under the adjacent edges of the breaker strips around the door opening. A separate suitable panel or panels are provided to close the remainder of said space to complete the front wall of the cabinet.

The above and other objects are effected by my invention as will be apparent from the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a cabinet constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view through the food compartment taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the cabinet;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view through the machine compartment, taken along the line IV-IV of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a partially assembled cabinet, showing the outer side facing panel on left-hand side detached.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through the bottom of the door jamb, taken along the line VI-VIof Fig. 5; l i

Fig. '7 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing the attaching means for mounting the outer side facing panels to the outer casing; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing the top door jamb construction, taken along the line VIIIVIII of Fig. 5.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, I show a refrigerator cabinet 10 having a door 11 closing the door opening 12 in the front wall. The body structure, to which the outer facing panels and the door are applied, includes a sheet metal outer casing 13, an inner casing or liner 14 of sheet metal or other sheet material and heat-insulating material between the casings.

The outer casing 13 includes a single sheet metal blank 15 which is bent as shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5 to form an outer rear wall 16, outer side walls 17, front wall vertical marginal panels 18, and inwardly-bent flanges 19 at the edges of the marginal panels, all of which preferably exposing inner and outer walls. the outer casing are subsequently also connected tend the full height of the outer casing. The upper and lower edges are turned inwardly to form flanges 21 and 22, respectively.

A cross member 20 having an upper flange 19' and a lower flange 22' is preferably welded at its ends to the lower ends of the marginal panels 18, as shown at 20' in Fig. 5.

The outer casing further includes a sheet metal outer top wall 23 having an upturned flange and a sheet metal outer bottom wall 24. The bottom wall 24 is disposed at the bottom of the outer casing, resting on the lower flanges 22 and 22'. The top wall 23 is disposed somewhat below the top of the outer casing, said top wall constituting a bottom wall for. the machine compartment 25 as well as an outer top wall for the heat insulated food compartment 26. At its forward edge, the top wall 23 is continued downwardly to form a wall 23a and then bent inwardly to form a flange 23b.

The top and bottom walls 23 and 24 are directly secured to the sheet metal blank 15, preferably by spot-welding the several flanges to the adjacent walls. There is thus provided 'a uni tary frameless structure, which is rigid and selfsustaining and which serves as a frame structure for the cabinet. The outer casing 13 may be entirely of unfinished sheet metal, since it is covered by facing members to be described. Preferably, however, it is given a coating of oil primer" or other suitable material for the purpose of rendering the metal rust-proof.

The joints between the parts of the outer casing 13 are preferably hermetically sealed in any suitable manner, as by applying hydrolene or other sealing compound or by welding the joints closed. The purpose of this is to prevent the entrance of moisture into the insulation, which deteriorates and loses its insulating properties when subjected to moisture.

Preformed heat-insulating material is positioned within the outer casing against the walls thereof, and preferably comprises block insulation 27, package insulation 28, and loose fibrous insulation 28'.

The inner liner 14 comprises an inner rear wall 29, inner side walls 30, an inner top wall 31 and an inner bottom wall 32, contiguous walls of the liner being joined to each other to form a one-piece liner. The inner surface of the liner is preferably covered with porcelain enamel or other suitable facing covering. The liner is formed with a flange 33 at its front edges.

After the heat-insulating material is positioned in the unitary outer casing, the liner is inserted therein through the door opening in the front wall. It is positioned therein preferably by the insulation, which fills the space between the op- The liner and by breaker strips around the door opening. However, the facing panel members are applied before the breaker strips are attached.

To the body structure as thus far assembled, I apply outer facing members, which are finished in some suitable manner, such as by a coating of porcelain enamel. Side facing members 34 and 35 each include a side wall panel 36 which covers the side wall panel 17 of the outer casing, a front wall vertical marginal panel 37 which covers the marginal panel 18 of the outer casing, 21 flange 38 which overlies the flange 19 of the outer casing, and a flange 39 at its rear edge which engages the adjacent marginal portion of the outer rear wall 16. The side facing members 34 and 35 are detachably mounted on the body structure, the front hook-like ends of the facing members being first brought to engage the marginal portions and flanges of the outer casing, and the rear edge of the facing member being then swung into place. The flanges 39 are secured to the rear wall 16 by means of screws 41. The flanges 19 and 38 are then secured to the flanges 33 of the inner liner by means of breaker strips 42 to complete the vertical sides of the door jamb construction.

The facing members are preferably also provided with angle pieces 43 at their upper and lower edges. These angle pieces may be spot-welded to the inner surfaces of the facing members, which is done prior to the process of applying the porcelain enamel finish, and are attached to the flanges 21 and 22, respectively, by means of suitable fastening means, such as screws 4. A layer of felt is interposed between the facing panel 36 and the outer side wall 17 for the purpose of cushioning the facing panel.

A front wall facing panel i5 is then placed over the cross member 20. It is provided with a lower flange 46 engaging the flange 22' and with the flange 47 at its upper edge which overlies the flange 19. The flanges 46 and 47 are secured by another breaker strip 42 to the flange 33 on the bottom wall of the liner.

A front wall facing panel 48 is positioned in the space above the door opening 12 and between the marginal panels. The facing panel 48 is provided with flanges 49 at its ends, which flanges are disposed adjacent the flanges 19 and 38 with a gasket 50 interposed therebetween. The upper ends of the flanges 49 are bolted to the flanges 19 at 49. At its lower edge, the facing panel 48 is provided with a flange 51 which is secured by a breaker strip 42 to the top wall 31 of the liner l4.

Suitable legs 52, preferably having porcelain enamel finish, are then applied to the cabinet by suitable securing means 53, and a top 54, also having a suitable finish such as porcelain enamel, is placed on top of the cabinet. The door 11 is secured by means of hinges 55, and a latch 56 is applied for retaining the same closed.

In the above construction, I have provided a refrigerator cabinet having an outer casing hermetically sealed against the atmosphere. The porcelain enamel facing panels are detachably mounted on the hermetically sealed casing, whereby the hermetic sealing is unaffected by replacement of any of the facing panels. A hermetic seal of any suitable form may also be provided between the flanges of the inner and outer casing around the door opening. This is not essential, however, as the air within the food compartment is usually dehydrated suiflciently to pre vent collection of moisture therefrom in the insulation.

A further important advantage of the present construction, from a production standpoint, is that the same construction, except for the outer facing panels, may be used for both lacquered cabinets and porcelain enamelled cabinets. For the lacquered cabinet, the outer casing 13 is given a suitable coating of lacquer, or any other similar coating. and the porcelain enameled outer facing panels are omitted. A top, front panel 48 and legs 52 having the same coating are substituted for porcelain enamelled parts.

From the above description, it will be seen that I have provided a cabinet construction which is simple and inexpensive to make. The facing members are of a size which is suitable to the process of applying porcelain enamel. Furthermore, each of the facing members is readily detachable without removing all of the facing members. For example, assuming that the facing member is defaced, this member may be removed by removing the cover 54, the adjacent legs 52, and the hinges 55. It is then removed'by withdrawing the screws 41, the bolt holding the flange 38 to the adjacent flange 19, the screws securing the adjacent breaker strip 42 to the flange 19, and the screws 44. A new facing member may then be substituted and the removed parts replaced. Thus, the facing member may be replaced by removal of relatively few parts without dismantling the body structure proper.

It will also be noted that a minimum length and number of joints between porcelain panels are required. A smooth and continuous round corner at the meeting edges of the side wall panels and the marginal panels is provided.

While I have shown my' invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A heat-insulated cabinet for refrigerators and the like comprising an outer casing including sheet metal rear, side, top, and bottom wall panels, contiguous walls of said outer casing being secured to each other to form a unitary, substantially rigid and self-sustaining sheet-metal structure which serves as a frame structure for the cabinet, an inner liner supported from the outer casing and disposed in spaced relation thereto to provide a heat insulating space therebetween, and outer facing panel members disposed on the outer side of some of the walls of the outer casing, including the side walls, and carried by said outer casing.

2. A heat-insulated cabinet for refrigerators and the like comprising an outer casing including sheet metal rear, side, top, and bottom wall panels, contiguous walls of said outer casing being secured to each other to form a unitary, substantially rigid and self-sustaining sheet-metal structure which serves as a frame structure for the cabinet, an inner liner supported from the outer casing and disposed in spaced relation thereto to provide a heat insulating space therebetween, and outer facing panel members disposed on the outer side of some of the walls of the outer casing, including the side walls, and detachably secured to and supported by said outer casing.

3. In a heat-insulated cabinet for refrigerators and the like, the combination of an outer casing comprising unfinished sheet metal rear, side, top, and bottom wall panels connected directly to each other at adjacent edges and forming a frameless, self-sustaining sheet metal structure which serves as a frame structure for the cabinet, an inner liner supported from the outer casing and disposed in spaced relation thereto to provide a heat insulating space therebetween, and outer facing panel members provided on the outer side of some of the walls of the outer casing. including the side walls, disposed closely adjacent said walls, and carried by said outer casing.

4. In a refrigerator cabinet, the combination of an outer casing comprising sheet metal rear,

side, top, and bottom wall panels secured to each other at adjacent edges to form a unitary, substantially rigid and self-sustaining sheet metal structure serving as a frame structure for the cabinet, an inner casing or lining within the outer casing, heat insulating material between the casings, the inner casing and the heat-insulating material forming with the outer casing a self-sustaining body structure, outer facing panel members mounted on the exterior of and carried by the outer casing, each of said lastmentioned members including a side Wall panel and a front wall vertical marginal panel, a portion of the space between the marginal panels constituting a door opening, and a front wall facing panel secured in a remaining portion of said space.

5. In a heat-insulated cabinet for refrigerators and the like, the combination of an outer sheet metal casing including rear. side, top and bottom wall panels and front wall vertical marginal panels, contiguous panels of said outer casing being secured to each other to form a frameless, self-sustaining sheet metal structure which serves as a frame structure for the cabinet, an inner liner supported from the outer casing and disposed in spaced relation thereto to provide a heat-insulating space therebetween, and a plurality of outer facing members carried by the outer casing and each of which covers one of the side walls of the outer casing and the adjacent front wall vertical marginal panel.

6. In a heat-insulated cabinet for refrigerators and the like, the combination of an outer sheet metal casing including rear, side, top and bottom wall panels and front wall vertical marginal panels, contiguous panels of said outer casing being secured to each other to form a frameless, self-sustaining sheet metal structure which serves as a frame structure for the cabinet, an inner liner supported from the outer casing and disposed in spaced relation thereto to provide a heat-insulating space therebetween, a plurality of outer facing members carried by the outer casing and each of which covers one of the side walls of the outer casing and the adjacent front wall marginal panel, and a front wall facing panel provided between the front wall vertical marginal panels.

I. In a heat insulated cabinet for refrigerators and the like, the combination of an outer unfinished sheet metal casing including rear, side, top and bottom wall panels and front wall vertical marginal panels, contiguous panels of said outer casing being secured to each other to form a frameless, self-sustaining sheet metal structure which serves as a frame structure for the cabinet, an inner liner supported from the outer casing and disposed in spaced relation thereto to provide a heat insulating space therebetween, and a plurality of outer facing members detachably secured to and carried by the outer casing, each of said facing members including a side wall panel and a front wall vertical marginal panel covering one of the side walls and the adjacent front wall vertical marginal panel of the outer casing.

8. In a refrigerator cabinet having a door opening in its front wall, the combination of an outer sheet metal casing including rear, side, top and bottom wall panels and front wall vertical marginal panels, contiguous panels of said outer casing being secured to each other to form a frameless, self-sustaining sheet metal structure which serves as a frame structure for the cabinet, an

inner liner supported from the outer casing and disposed in spaced relation thereto to provide a. heat-insulating space therebetween, breaker strips extending between the inner linerand the outer casing around the door opening, two outer facing panels each of which covers one of the side walls of the outer casing and the adjacent front wall marginal panel, and means for securing the facing members to the outer casing comprising connecting means at the back of the cabinet and inturned flanges provided on the free edges of the marginal portions of the facing members, said inturned flanges being inserted under said breaker strips, said breaker strips being fastened thereto.

9. A heat-insulated cabinet for refrigerators and the like comprising an outer unfinished sheet metal casing, said outer casing including a single sheet metal blank bent to form rear and side wall panels and front wall vertical marginal panels and further including top and bottom panels secured to said blank to form therewith a unitary, substantially rigid and self-supporting structure serving as a frame structure for the cabinet, an inner liner for the cabinet secured in spaced relation to the outer casing to provide a heat-insulating space therebetween, a plurality of outer facing members each covering one of the side walls of the outer casing and the adjacent front wall vertical marginal panel, a front wall facing panel provided between said marginal panels, and a facing cover on the top of the outer casing.

10. In a refrigerator cabinet, an outer casing including a single sheet metal blank folded to form outer rear and side wall panels and front wall vertical marginal panels having inwardlyextending flanges at their free vertical edges and further including a top and a bottom wall secured to said blank to form therewith a unitary, substantially rigid and self-sustaining structure which serves as a frame structure for the cabinet; an inner liner disposed in spaced relation to the walls of the outer casing; heat-insulating material in the space therebetween; outer facing members each comprising a panel covering one of the outer side Wall panels, means for connecting the facing member to the outer casing adjacent the rear wall, a marginal panel covering the adjacent one of the first-mentioned marginal panels, and a flange overlying the adjacent one of the first-mentioned flanges; and a front wall facing panel disposed between said marginal panels and having flanges secured to some of the aforementioned flanges.

11. A refrigerator cabinet comprising a body structure, said body structure including outer rear and side wall panels, front wall vertical marginal panels and inwardly-extending flanges all formed of a single sheet metal blank, cuter top and bottom panels secured to the sheet metal blank to form a frameless outer casing which serves as a frame structure for the cabinet, an inner facing sheet metal member forming inner rear, side, top and bottom wall panels and flanges at the free edges all disposed in spaced relation to the outer panels, and heat-insulating material in the space therebetween; and sheet metal facing mem-- bers carried by the body structure, each of said facing members comprising a side panel covering one side wall panel of the outer casing, a flange at the rear edge connected to the rear wall panel, a front wall vertical marginal panel and a flange respectively covering the adjacent marginal panel and flange of said outer casing, and breaker strips connecting the flanges of the marginal panels to flanges of the inner facing member.

12. A heat insulated cabinet for refrigerators and the like comprising a sheet metal outer casing including side and rear wall panels, said outer casing being hermetically sealed against the atmosphere, an inner liner within the outer casing and disposed in spaced relation to the walls thereof to provide a heat-insulating space therebetween, and outer facing panel members disposed on the outer side of some of the walls of the outer casing, including the side walls, and carried by and detachably secured to the outer casing.

13. In a refrigerator cabinet having a door opening in its front wall, the combination of an outer sheet metal casing including rear and side wall panels and front Wall vertical marginal panels, contiguous panels of said outer casing being secured to each other to form a frameless, selfsustaining sheet metal structure which serves as a frame structure for the cabinet, an inner liner disposed in spaced relation to the walls of the outer casing, heat insulating material in the space therebetween, breaker strips extending between the inner liner and the outer casing around the door opening, said inner liner being secured in place by said insulation thereby eliminating the necessity for a' frame, and outer facing members covering said side wall and said front wall vertical marginal panels.

14. A heat-insulated cabinet for refrigerators and the like comprising an outer casing including sheet metal rear, side, top, and bottom wall panels, said outer casing serving as a frame structure for the cabinet, an inner liner supported from the outer casing and disposed in spaced relation thereto to provide a heat insulating space therebetween, and outer facing members covering, the side walls of the outer casing and carried by the outer casing.

15. In a cabinet for refrigerators and the like, the combination of an outer casing including sheet metal rear, side, top, and bottom wall panels and front wall vertical marginal panels, said outer casing serving as a frame structure for the cabinet, an inner liner disposed within the outer casing with its walls in spaced relatior. to the respective walls of the outer casing, heat insulating material between the casings serving to position the inner liner in the outer casing, breaker strips extending between the inner liner and the outer casing around the door opening, and outer facing members covering the side walls of the outer casing and carried by the outer casing.

GREGG F. FORSTHOEFEL. 

